September 27, 2020
Kids, Teens, & Family Newsletter
All libraries are currently open for limited Express Services. As of June 1st, libraries are open additional hours and the public will be able to use meeting rooms and study rooms. Click here for updates about this and other services.
Celebrate a season of reading with Summer Spotlight!
Read, learn, create, and enjoy at home or at the library this summer.
Saturday, June 5 – Saturday, August 28, 2021
For ages birth - 18
The Readmobile is on the road!
Visit the Readmobile and play the Lucky Duck game at the Scott County Fair on Kids Day (Thu 7/29) from 10am-4pm!

You can also see us at our public visits in Savage, Prior Lake, New Prague, Jordan, and Belle Plaine.

See the Readmobile page for the schedule and more details.
readmobile logo
Watch & Listen & Write
Early Learning Mini-Videos
graphic with cartoon vehicles and "Who Drives the...?" text
WHO DRIVES THE ... ?
Available starting 7/19
Do your kiddos love large vehicles? Join us for "Who drives the..." a series that features some favorite vehicles and their drivers.

Join Ms. Ally and she meets with Amy and Jacob from the Scott County Sheriff's Department and they show the two types of vehicles they drive: a sheriff's interceptor and a boat! We'll learn about the vehicle, watch it in action, and then read a humorous story about the how officers and deputies play a role in keep communities safe. (Officer Buckle and Gloria by Peggy Rathman is read with permission from Penguin Random House.)
cover of the book Thank You, Earth by April Pulley Sayre
READ & CREATE VIDEO
Available starting 7/26
Join Ms. Lisa as she celebrates the great outdoors through story, song, and rhyme. Then create your own Nature Scavenger Hunt scrapbook*. Our book this week is Thank You, Earth, written by April Pulley Sayre and read with permission from Harper Collins Publisher.
 
*Instructions are available online, and kits available at Scott County libraries starting 7/26 (while supplies last). Funded by the Minnesota Arts & Cultural Heritage (Legacy) Amendment. 
Listen & Create: The Last Last-Day-of-Summer
Best for ages 6-11. Listen to the first exciting moments of the chapter book "The Last Last-Day-of-Summer" (and remember to pick up a STEAM Adventure To Go:Sun Clock project at the library starting 7/26!).
 
Ready to read more of The Last Last-Day-of-Summer? Check our catalog to see if your library has a copy available or place a hold.
graphic with cover of book and text: Listen and Create, the Last Last-Day-of-Summer by Lamar Giles
Performer Video Premiere
FACEBOOK UPDATE:
We will continue to feature a different performer video each Thursday on Facebook but will no longer host live premieres. All videos are also available on our YouTube playlist.
This program is supported by MELSA and funded by the Minnesota’s Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.
graphic of the Jolly Pops musicians with text: Featured 7/22
The Jolly Pops - Thu 7/22
The Jolly Pops, one of the Twin Cities favorite kid bands, have dropped off a one of a kind experience for you and your family. Have you ever seen a video "pop up" book? Well now you can. These happy musical dads have created a ride unlike anything you've ever seen. You'll sing, you'll dance, and you'll have so much fun you won't want it to end.
graphic of the Atoufayi Haitian Dance with text: Featured 7/29
Haitian Dance with Afoutayi - Thu 7/29
Dance the story of THE MERMAID AND THE WHALE with COMPAS Teaching Artist Djenane Saint Juste. Learn the Creole and French words that are part of their story. This performance is filled with Haitian dance, music, drumming storytelling and history and culture. 
Pickup Projects at Your Library
Pick up weekly Adventure To Go activity packets at the library all summer long!
Did you miss a previous week's To Go packet? They may still be available at your library!
7/19-7/25:
STEM Adventure To Go: Marshmallow & Toothpick Engineering Challenge
Best for ages 3-18, one per family. Use the marshmallows, toothpicks, and idea sheet to create all kinds of structures!
photographs of marshmallow and toothpick structures
7/26-7/31:

Art Adventure To Go: Nature Scavenger Hunt Scrapbook (ages 3-5)
Make this simple scrapbook and gather or draw things that you find outside. There's even a fun twig pencil included!
photo of supplies for Nature Scavenger Hunt Scrapbook

STEAM Adventure To Go: Sun Clock (ages 6-11)
Make a simple sun clock with a paper plate and straw, then decorate with the cool two-sided marker we've included. Experiment to see how well your clock keeps time!
photograph of a sun clock made with a paper plate and straw
In-Person Programs
Especially for Teens (ages 12-18)
Outdoor Survival for Teens with Three Rivers Park: Join the library and a Three Rivers Park naturalist for this Survival skills & Fire building program. You'll learn the rules of survival and how to build a fire using limited resources, then put your skills to the test with a survival scenario.

Registration now open
Tue 7/27, 1:30-3:00pm

Registration now open
Sat 7/31, 10:00-11:30am
Campfire Lights with Maria in the library
For ages 3-8 with adult. Join local artist Maria as she leads you in a project to make an adorable and fire-free "campfire light"! Funded by Minnesota's Arts & Cultural Heritage (Legacy) Amendment.

This class is in-person and indoors in the library meeting room:
  • Participants must be free of COVID-19 symptoms
  • Masks are welcome but not required. Unvaccinated individuals are strongly encouraged to wear masks in all Scott County Buildings

Registration now open:
photograph of tissue paper and tea light campfire project
The Outdoor Library: Programs in the Parks!
Join the library and some of our favorite presenters for outdoor arts and STEM workshops! Arts workshops are funded by Minnesota's Arts & Cultural Heritage (Legacy) Amendment.
Abrakadoodle Gyotaku Fish Printing
Explore the Japanese art of fish printing (Gyotaku). We will be using lifelike rubber fish to make our own fish prints and everyone will go home with an amazing work of art!
For ages 6-11.

Registration now open
Mon 7/26, 10:30-11:15am

Registration now open
Mon 7/26, 1:00-1:45pm

Registration now open
Tue 7/27, 10:00-10:45am
photograph of two gyotaku fish printing projects
Live By Appointment
Reserve a time for your group of up to 6 people to enjoy these self-guided, life-sized games in the library meeting room!

Ten Pigs Game, best for ages 3-8 with adult: Develop large motor skills with hopscotch, practice letter recognition with a word game, and work together to find all the scavenger hunt items. And you'll even get supplies for making your own set of piggy ears at home!

Registration now open - sign up online by 7/22 for appointments on these dates & times. After 7/22 you may still be able to make an appointment by calling the Prior Lake Library at 952-447-3375 during open hours.
Sat 7/24, 10:30am-1:30pm
Mon 7/26, 12:30-7:30pm
Tue 7/27, 10:30am-5:30pm
Wed 7/28, 2:30-7:00pm

Registration now open - sign up online by 7/29 for appointments on these dates & times. After 7/29 you may still be able to make an appointment by calling the Elko New Market Library at 952-496-8030 during open hours.
Mon 8/2, 10:30-3:30pm
Tue 8/3, 2:30-7:30pm
Wed 8/4, 10:30am-3:00pm

Candy Land Game, best for ages 3-8 with adult: Who will make it to the end first? Who will find all the pictures in the scavenger hunt? Enjoy your own private appointment to play our life-size, self-guided Candy Land game with the whole family..

Registration now open - sign up online by 7/19 for appointments on these dates & times. After 7/19 you may still be able to make an appointment by calling the Shakopee Library at 952-233-9590 during open hours.
Wed 7/21, 2:30-7:30pm
Thu 7/22, 10:30am-5:30pm
Fri 7/23, 10:30am-3:30pm
Sat 7/24, 10:30am-1:00pm

Registration now open - sign up online by 7/29 for appointments on these dates & times. After 7/29 you may still be able to make an appointment by calling the Savage Library at 952-707-1770 during open hours.
Sat 7/31, 10:30am-1:30pm
Mon 8/2, 10:30am-5:30pm
Tue 8/3, 12:30-7:30pm
Wed 8/4, 10:30am-5:00pm

Art Heist Escape Room, best for ages 9-18 with adult: Can you correctly identify the thief of the missing art in just 20 minutes? Make an appointment for the family to play a self-guided Art Heist Escape Room together (up to 6 people)

Registration now open - online registration is closed but you may still be able to make an appointment by calling the New Prague Library at 952-496-8026 during open hours.
Mon 7/19, 12:30-7:30pm
Tue 7/20, 10:30am-5:30pm
Wed 7/21, 12:30-7:00pm

Registration now open - sign up online by 7/23 for appointments on these dates & times. After 7/23 you may still be able to make an appointment by calling the Belle Plaine Library at 952-873-6767 during open hours.
Tue 7/27, 2:30-7:30pm
Wed 7/28, 10:30am-3:30pm
Thu 7/29, 2:30-7:00pm